Huawei P11 Reportedly Arriving With iPhone X-Like Notch; Specifications Leaked

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Dec 8, 2017

Huawei is reportedly working on its upcoming Huawei P11 flagship phone. It is speculated that its appearance will be quite different from the predecessor Huawei P10 phone. The alleged P11 is rumored to arrive with a bezel-less design as well as a notch that can be found on the iPhone X or Essential Phone.

XDA Developers has come across some firmware files for an upcoming Huawei flagship. One of the configuration files shows that the area surrounding the iPhone X-like notch portion as “RoundCornerDisplay.” It claims that there is another configuration file that specifically indicates the existence of a notch on the alleged P11.

It has been also found that through a configuration file that the smartphone features a 6.01-inch Samsung EA8074 CMD TFT LCD panel that carries support for Full HD+ resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels. However, some other evidences indicate that it supports 2244 x 1080 pixels resolution. The publication claims that the alleged Huawei P11 could be having such a resolution because of the presence of a notch.

The Chinese smartphone manufacturer is expected to announce the Huawei P11 phone at the upcoming Mobile World Congress (MWC) event that will be held in February 2018. It is speculated that the P11 would be powered by the Kirin 970 chipset that fuels other flagship phones like Mate 10, Mate 10 Pro and Honor V10. These phones feature EMUI 8.0.0, but the alleged Huawei P11 is running on Android 8.0 Oreo that is overlaid with a newer edition of EMUI 8.0.1. The handset also seems to support Huawei’s Easy Projection which indicates that it will also feature USB 3.1 port.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?25&v=lFLtBrAGDfU

The Huawei P11 is speculated to be codenamed as EMILY. The publication has also found different variants of EMILY such as EML-AL00, EML-L09, EML-L29 and EML-TL00 in the firmware files. These could include single-SIM and dual-SIM versions of P11 for the European markets. As of this writing, there is no information on the price tag of the phone.

Earlier in this week, well-known tipster Evan Blass had revealed that the next-generation Huawei P-series phone could be an imaging powerhouse. He has claimed that the alleged P11 may feature 40-megapixel Pro triple-lens Leica branded cameras that will be equipped with 5x hybrid zoom. It is also expected to feature 24-megapixel selfie snapper by Leica.

(source)

LG V30 Signature Edition Launched in Korea, Costs Nearly $2000

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Dec 7, 2017

LG has announced a special edition variant of its V30 flagship. The LG V30 Signature Edition is exclusive to South Korea and comes with a number of upgraded features over the regular model.

First, the V30 Signature Edition has 6GB of RAM and 256GB of storage rather than 4GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of storage like the standard variant.

LG has also changed the glass at the back to Zirconium ceramic which is less prone to scratches. LG adds that buyers will be able to get their names engraved on the device. There will also be special after-sales customer service for buyers in addition to a premium package that includes a pair of Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H5 earphones and a pair of wired Bang & Olufsen earphones.

The phone will come in just two colors – black and white, and only 300 units will be available for sale.

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Huami’s New Amazfit 2 Smartwatch Can Be Used For Swimming Up to 50 Meters

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 7, 2017

Huami burst into the limelight after the manufacture of the Mi Band and Mi Band 2 for Xiaomi. The company has since carved a niche for itself and presently has several smartwatches and fitness trackers under its arsenal. One unique product under its sleeves is the popular Amazfit smartwatch. The Amazfit smartwatch was released last year and the company has recently announced that it would be launching a second-generation Amazfit Smartwatch 2 on December 12.

Over the past few days, Huami has been teasing some of the features the upcoming smartwatch would come with. The company had first teased that the new smartwatch would come with hand-polished ceramic bezels around the display. Yet another teaser has been released and it shows the Amazfit Smartwatch 2 would come with a swimming mode which would allow its usage underwater for up to a depth of 50 meters. That shows the device will be waterproof just like its predecessor and would be a useful one for tracking swimming activities by users.

We expect more teasers to be released before the official unveiling which is still about 4 days away. But the details already revealed points at some considerable improvements in the design (hand-polished ceramic bezels) and the specs (swimming mode). We can’t say if the Amazfit 2 will keep up with the 1.34-inch diameter which the first-gen model featured.We also expect the price tag to rally around the $120 price of the first model with some little adjustments to reflect the improved specs.

(source)

OnePlus Says Its All About Updates, (Still) No Treble

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Dec 7, 2017

When OnePlus revealed that there will be no Project Treble support for its current devices, fans of the brand were displeased. A petition requesting for a reconsideration was started and OnePlus has responded to it. To cut the long story short, OnePlus says no Project Treble.

A staff of OnePlus responded to the petition during an AMA session and gave reasons why they won’t be implementing it.

According to him, Project Treble requires a storage partition to house the Android framework and the vendor image. Since this wasn’t a requirement for Android Nougat and older versions of Android, all their current devices do not have it.

I guess you are wondering why devices like the Essential Phone which also runs Android Nougat gets Project treble. OnePlus said they could do the same via OTA but it comes as a risk as the device may brick during partitioning, a risk they do not want users to face.

So does it mean that Essential and other manufacturers that have added Project Treble support to their flagship phones receiving Android Oreo have taken a risk? There is a chance these other companies didn’t consider their devices getting bricked or maybe they already partitioned the storage before release.

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Xiaomi Revealed To Have Shipped 27.6 Million Smartphones In Q3 2017

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 7, 2017

Xiaomi yesterday launched the Redmi 5 Plus and Redmi 5 in China and on the sidelines of the event, the tech giant also disclosed that it had shipped a total of 27.6 million smartphones in Q3 2017, quoting a report by research firm, IDC. Xiaomi has been enjoying a favourable and successful run this year with a commendable performance in the first and second quarters of the year. DigiTimes had earlier predicted that Xiaomi’s shipment could fall between 25 – 30 million units and this was a result of multiple models that were released this year.

The company dubbed China’s Apple did not give details of how it was able to achieve such figures in shipments but we already know India and China both played strategic roles in achieving this feat. Xiaomi India recently took to social media to celebrate its record 9.2 million shipments recorded in Q3 in India alone. This represents more than 40%of its entire sales in the quarter under review.

Quite remarkably, Xiaomi managed to ship only 13.6 million smartphones in Q3 2016 and now is able to increase that exponentially through its strategic efforts to devolve from online-only sales model to a fusion of both offline and online sales. The company also disclosed that its tentacles are spreading far and wild as it has been recording strong performance in Russia, Indonesia, and a handful of European countries.

(source)

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus vs Honor 7X Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

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Dec 7, 2017

When it comes to budget smartphones, you must accept compromises if you want to buy a decent device at an affordable price. Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus and Honor 7X are among the best midrange phones released in Q4 2017 and we also consider them two of the best smartphones in terms of quality-price ratio. Seeing that they are two of the best options to choose in their price range, we think it is important to compare their specs to establish which among them — Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus vs Honor 7X has the best value for money.

	Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus	Honor 7X
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	158.5 x 75.5 x 8.1 mm, 180 grams	156.5 x 75.3 x 7.6 mm, 165 grams
DISPLAY	5,99 inches, 1080 x 2160p (Full HD+), 403 ppi, 18:9 ratio, IPS LCD	5.93 inches, 1080 x 2160p (Full HD+), 407 ppi, 18:9 ratio, IPS LCD
PROCESSOR	Qualcomm Snapdragon 625, octa-core 2.0 GHz	HiSilicon Kirin 659, octa-core 2.36 GHz
MEMORY	3 GB RAM, 32 GB – 4 GB RAM, 64 GB, micro SD slot	3 GB RAM, 32 GB – 4 GB RAM, 32 GB – 4 GB RAM, 64 GB, micro SD slot
SOFTWARE	Android 7.1.2 Nougat, MIUI 9	Android 7.0 Nougat, EMUI 5.1
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS
CAMERA	12 MP f/2.2 5 MP front camera	Dual 16 + 2 MP 8 MP front camera
BATTERY	4000 mAh Fast charging 5V / 2A	3340 mAh
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Hybrid Dual SIM slot	Hybrid Dual SIM slot

While there isn’t much difference between the displays of these phones, it is important to note that Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus offers a huge battery, which will surely offer a longer battery life. There are no significant differences on the hardware side as well, but Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus has a SoC which is famous for having a very low energy consumption. Unfortunately, we still do not know much about the camera performances of these devices, but we think Honor 7X will shoot more interesting photos with its dual camera setup.

Cameras have never been a strong point in Xiaomi’s affordable phones, but we cannot say the same thing about affordable Huawei devices, which have provided satisfying photos most of the time. On the other hand, we think that Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus will be supported (on the software side) in a more solid way over time, while Honor 7X should receive fewer updates. Although it’s worth mentioning that the one year old Honor V9 got the early adopter program for Android Oreo recently, so things are not too bad on Huawei’s end.

The Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus is also more affordable (even though we still do not know prices outside of China): it will start from $151 in China (about 128 euros). Honor 7X has a starting price of $200 dollars in China and U.S and 299 euros in Europe.

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus vs Honor 7X: PRO and CONS

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus

PRO

Amazing battery
Full display
Good performance
Very affordable price

CONS

Limited availability

Honor 7X

PRO

Elegant design
Full display
Nice dual camera
Above average battery

CONS

Higher price than R5P

If I had to choose between Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus vs Honor 7X Specs, then I would pick the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus as it offers very similar specs at a lower price and it has a bigger battery paired with a very efficient SoC (the Snapdragon 625).

What’s your choice?

Xiaomi Redmi 5 vs Redmi Note 5A: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

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Dec 7, 2017

Together with the 5-inch Redmi 5A, the new Xiaomi Redmi 5 and Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A are the cheapest smartphones from Xiaomi’s latest generation. If you are searching for a phablet but you have a very low budget, these two handsets may be the best in the market for your needs. Seeing that they are very similar and we can say the same about their price, we think it is appropriate to make a Xiaomi Redmi 5 vs Redmi Note 5A comparison, at least basing on specs on the paper, especially because they are entry-level phones.

	Xiaomi Redmi 5	Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	151.8 x 72.8 x 7.7 mm, 157 g	153 x 76.2 x 7.7 mm, 153 g
DISPLAY	5.7 inches, 720 x 1440p (HD+), 18:9 ratio, IPS LCD	5.5 inches, 720 x 1280p (HD), 16:9 ratio, IPS LCD
PROCESSOR	Qualcomm Snapdragon 450, octa-core 1.8 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 435, octa-core 1.4 GHz
MEMORY	2 GB RAM, 16 GB – 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, micro SD slot	3 GB RAM, 32 GB – 4 GB RAM, 64 GB, micro SD slot
SOFTWARE	Android 7.1.2 Nougat, MIUI 9	Android 7.0 Nougat, MIUI 9
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS
CAMERA	12 MP f/2.2, 5 MP front camera	13 MP f/2.2, 16 MP f/2.0 front camera
BATTERY	3300 mAh, fast charging 5V / 2A	3080 mAh
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Hybrid Dual SIM	Dual SIM with micro SD dedicated slot

The most evident difference between Xiaomi Redmi 5 vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A is in their displays: the first has a borderless display with an 18:9 aspect ratio, while the second has a classic 16:9 screen. So, the Xiaomi Redmi 5 has smaller dimensions and more pixels, even if the size of the display is almost the same. SoCs are different as well, but Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 and 435 can provide similar performances, even if the first is slightly more powerful.

However, note that Redmi Note 5A is available in a configuration which is more powerful than Redmi 5: the one with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB ROM. Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A is a better camera phone, especially for selfies, because it has a 16 MP front camera that can deliver pretty good level of detail. On the other hand, the Xiaomi Redmi 5 has a bigger battery, which should most likely translate into better battery life than the Redmi Note 5A. The price is almost the same: the Xiaomi Redmi 5 starts from $120 (101 euros), while the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A costs $104 dollars (89 euros) in its base version.

Xiaomi Redmi 5 vs Redmi Note 5A: PRO and CONS

Xiaomi Redmi 5

PRO

Full display
Better SoC
Bigger battery with fast charging
Low price

CONS

The camera department should not be anything special

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A

PRO

More RAM and storage in the top variant
Dedicated micro SD slot
Great selfie camera
Solid build quality
Very affordable price

CONS

Smaller battery

Unless you care a lot about selfies, we suggest you spend $15-20 more and buy Xiaomi Redmi 5 as it’s a better device with its borderless display, powerful SoC and a bigger battery.

Huawei V9 & Honor 9 Get Android 8.0 Oreo-based EMUI 8 Early Adopters Program

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 7, 2017

Huawei‘s Custom ROM EMUI 8 will soon be available for users of the Honor 9 and Honor V9 smartphones. This was made known via the official EMUI Weibo page where it was disclosed that the duo would get the upgrade through the early adopter program. This means users who want to be among the first to use the new EMUI 8 which is based on Android Oreo would need to apply to be part of the programme.

The program can be entered through the Member Service app and Huawei also disclosed that there are limited slots available meaning that admission into the early adopter program would be based on first come, first served. All users of the Honor V9 and Honor 9 need do is to access the Membership Service app and request for an upgrade and EMUI 8.0 version B323 would be pushed to their smartphones. It seems, though, that the features would be limited. The compatible Honor 9 models include the Honor 9 full Network standard version with 4GB + 64GB (STF-AL00) as well as the Honor 9 full Netcom version 6GB + 64GB (STF-AL10). Others include the Honor 9 Netcom Enjoy Edition 6GB + 128GB (STF-AL10), the China Mobile 4G version with 6GB + 64GB (STF-TL10), and the China Mobile 4G version with 6GB + 128GB (STF-TL10). The Honor V9 versions include to just the full Netcom 6GB + 128GB model (DUK-AL20) and the lower full Netcom 6GB + 64GB version (DUK-AL20) and 4GB + 64GB full Netcom version.

The Honor 9 and Honor V9 were both released earlier this year, June and February 2017 respectively. Both models come with EMUI 5 based on Android Nougat which makes them perfect fit for upgrades to Android Oreo-based EMUI 8.0. Both models now add to the tally of Huawei smartphones that would soon get Android Oreo-based EMUI 8 upgrade. First, Huawei commenced the EMUI 8 Beta program for the P10 and P10 Plus and later the Mate 9 was spotted on Geekbench running Android Oreo. Perhaps, it won’t be long before full updates start hitting models.

(source)

Oppo F5 Youth With 18:9 Display And 16MP Front Camera Launched In India

By

Jeet

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Dec 7, 2017

Oppo F5 Youth, which was teased at the Oppo F5 launch event, has now been officially launched in India. Recently, the smartphone was made available in the Philippines.

The phone’s design is almost same as the design of the original model. The key difference is the missing antenna lines on the Youth model. Other than that, everything seems identical.

The smartphone comes with a 6-inch LTPS TFT Full HD+ display with a screen resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels and 18:9 aspect ratio. The device is powered by an octa-core MediaTek MT6763T Helio P23 processor, coupled with 3GB RAM.

It packs 32GB of onboard storage which can also be expanded up to 256GB using a microSD card. Rather than a hybrid SIM card slot, the device comes with a dedicated microSD card slot.

On the photography front, the device features a 13-megapixel rear camera sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and an LED flash, along with a 16-megapixel front-facing camera with an f/2.0 aperture. In contrast, the F5 comes with a 16-megapixel rear camera sensor with f/1.8 aperture and a 20-megapixel front camera sensor with f/2.0 aperture.

Connectivity options on the Oppo F5 Youth include Dual SIM, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, A-GPS, Micro-USB with USB OTG support, and a 3.5mm audio jack. For security features, the device comes with a rear-facing fingerprint scanner.

The phone runs Android 7.1 Nougat operating system based ColorOS 3.2, which brings features like split-screen multitasking, DND gaming mode, and a Night Shield mode. It also comes with support for Facial Unlock feature.

The Oppo F5 Youth is priced at Rs. 16,990 in India and will be available for purchase from Friday, i.e. December 8. The smartphone will be available through offline as well as online stores. As of now, the company has not revealed any details related to the launch offers.

Researchers Connect 3D-Printed Objects Over Wi-Fi Without Electronics

By

Jeet

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Dec 7, 2017

3D printing technology is becoming useful and to further increase its use-cases, researchers are working on to introduce something new that boosts the functionalities involved in using the technology.

In a steps towards that, researchers from the University of Washington have revealed that they have developed 3D-printed plastic objects that can connect to the internet without any electronics or batteries in the object itself.

The 3D printing plastic objects and sensors can collect useful data and communicate with other WiFi-connected devices entirely on their own.

This was recently presented at the Association for Computing Machinery’s SIGGRAPH Conference and Exhibition on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques in Asia

Commenting on this, Vikram Iyer, a graduate student on the project, said:

Our goal was to create something that just comes out of your 3D printer at home and can send useful information to other devices. But the big challenge is how do you communicate wirelessly with WiFi using only plastic? That’s something that no one has been able to do before.

In the research paper, the researchers mentions that they have found a way to 3D-print plastic objects that can absorb or reflect ambient Wi-Fi signals and send data wirelessly to any Wi-Fi receiver.

The team employed backscatter techniques to allow devices to exchange information. They replaced some functions normally performed by electrical components with mechanical motion activated by springs, gears, switches and other parts that can be 3D printed — borrowing from principles that allow battery-free watches to keep time.

They have created an anemometer which measures wind speed, and attached it to a gear. When the gear spins, the teeth connect with an antenna embedded and that antenna reflects ambient Wi-Fi signal, which can be decoded by a Wi-Fi receiver.

The team has also said that they are making their 3D models available to the public so that 3D printing enthusiasts can utilize these objects at home.

(Source)

Xiaomi Noise Cancelling Piston Earphones launching December 12

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Dec 7, 2017

Xiaomi has announced that it has a new pair of earphones launching soon. The official teaser poster reveals that the new earphones which should belong to the piston line will launch on the 12th of December.

The poster also teases the key feature of the upcoming Xiaomi piston earphones. According to a rough translation of the text on the teaser poster, the new earphones will have noise cancellation.

A second teaser poster shows a control slider with a text that translates into “freedom to switch” which might mean that one will be able to adjust the noise cancellation intensity.

It is not yet known if the earphones will be the in-ear or over-the ear type or if it will be wired or wireless.

Continue

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus & Redmi 5 Side By Side In Pictures: Impressive Duo!

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 7, 2017

Xiaomi finally took the wraps off the Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus, its first full-screen model in the mid-range segment. Xiaomi’s concept Mi Mix which was released last year can be credited to be the catalyst that spurred the trend we are presently witnessing in the smartphone industry. However, the Samsung Galaxy S8 played a great role and since the launch of the flagship Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus this year, we haven’t been able to keep count with the stats of models with such design.

The Xiaomi Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus utilises the full-screen design but some might not be too impressed with it because it looks like Xiaomi just slightly reduced the bezels around the screen. However, there is still a considerable and noticeable amount of bezels on all four sides. The large screen form factor makes the reduced bezels quite obvious, though. The Redmi 5 comes in at 5.7 inches HD+ (1440 x 720p) screen while the Redmi 5 Plus has a display size of 5.99 inches with FHD+ (2160 x 1080p) resolution. Both models have a rear design similar to the Redmi 4X. There is a single camera and a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor under the camera.

Apart from the full-screen design, one other aspect the Redmi 5 models tickle is their prices. The Redmi 5 starts at just 799 Yuan ($120) for the base 2GBRAM + 16GB storage variant. There is a second variant having 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage and it still comes cheap at 899 Yuan (~$135). The Redmi 5 Plus also has a considerably cheap price tag for a phablet size smartphone. The base model of the Redmi 5 Plus has 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage and it costs 999 Yuan (~$151). On the other hand, the higher variant with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage is priced at 1,299 Yuan (~$196).

At these prices, both models are expected to be top sellers and Xiaomi isn’t waiting too long before introducing them into the market. From December 12, fans domiciled in China can begin buying any of the models they want from online retail outlets like Mi Mall, Jingdong (JD.com), Suning Tesco, and Lynx. Check out more pictures of the sleek Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus below.

(source)

After India, OnePlus 5T Star Wars Edition Is Now Heading To Europe

By

Jeet

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Dec 7, 2017

OnePlus recently launched OnePlus 5T Star Wars Edition smartphone in India. The announcement took place during Comic Con in Bengaluru, India.

There were reports suggesting that the phone will be exclusive in India. However, the company has now confirmed that the OnePlus 5T Star Wars Edition will be available in Europe.

In its official blog post, OnePlus announced that the OP 5T Star Wars Edition will be available for purchase in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden. Further, it added that the early customers will be able to get it on December 13 at the premiere of The Last Jedi that’ll be shown at Tennis Palace.

Even though the smartphone was first announced in India, it will be first available in Europe. In India, the limited edition phone will be launched on December 14 at Carnival Cinemas Wadala, Mumbai. The tickets for the same will be available from Paytm on December 7.

The OnePlus 5T Star Wars Edition comes in white colour along with the familiar Star Wars logo engraved in red ink on the back panel, at the bottom of the phone. The alert slider has also been coloured red but the volume rocker and the power button remains black.

Globally, the OnePlus 5T smartphone is available in only one colour — Midnight Black. In China, it is also available in Lava Red colour. If you want the phone in White colour, this limited edition model seems to be the only choice as of now.

All the specification on this limited edition device remains same as the standard model. To remind you of the specs, the device comes with a 6-inch edge-to-edge full-screen display with an 18:9 aspect ratio. Under the hood, the phone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor along with 6GB/8GB RAM and 64GB/128GB internal storage.

Apart from the display, another major improvement in the OnePlus 5T is the camera. It comes with a rear-mounted dual camera system that features a f/1.7 aperture 16-megapixel camera sensor and a f/1.7 aperture 20-megapixel camera sensor. There is also a front-facing camera of 20-megapixels which has a f/2.0 aperture.

The phone runs Android 7.1.1 Nougat based Oxygen OS 4.7. The device packs 3,300mAh battery which also supports company’s own Dash Charging technology.

Xiaomi Launches The 8H American Spring Fabric Sofa Under Crowdfunding

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 7, 2017

Xiaomi has announced a new product under the MIJIA crowdfunding platform. The product is the 139th product that tech giant would be churning out from its crowdfunding platform. The new product is manufactured by Chengdu Fun Sleep Technology Co., also known as 8H which is known for its quality products like the 8H Mattress launched last year.

The 8H fabric sofa comes with a minimalistic design and it utilises the simple spring and clothes sofa pattern. It is available as a single sitter, double sitter and three-sitter form, each with a different price tag but the price starts at 1,599 Yuan. You also get the option of three colours to choose from. There is an Autumn Blue colour, Ascot Gray and England Gray colours.

Design wise, it features a simple yet classic style design. The backrest and sit use removable cushion while the handrail is widened to guarantee comfort. Despite the presence of cushion, there is still high-carbo steel spring underneath for extra comfort and high weight support. The fabric is made from high-grade natural linen material. It is soft, delicate to touch, and is treated to ensure water doesn’t seep into the fabric if there is a spill. The sofa fabric is also removable and can be taken off for washing easily.

Perhaps, the most spectacular aspect is that the sofa comes with removable buckle bolt design. All joints are screwed together such that it can be disassembled when there is need to move the furniture. As for the prices, the single unit starts at 1,599 Yuan (~$241), while the double-sitter has a price of 2,499 Yuan (~$377) and a three-sitters is priced at 2,999 Yuan (~$453). The product is up for funding on Mi.com and would start shipping as from December 30.

Huawei Nova 2S is Official: Brings Dual Front and Rear Cameras and A Full-Screen Display

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Dec 7, 2017

Fresh off the launch of the Honor View 10 and Honor 7X in Europe, Huawei has returned to its home country to reveal yet another smartphone – the Huawei Nova 2s.

The Nova 2s is a flagship smartphone just like the V10/View 10, but its arrival will likely put fans of the brand in a conundrum when it comes to choosing between it and the Honor V10.

Dual Cameras or More Power?

The specs, design and pricing of the Nova 2s are similar to that of the Honor V10 but with some key changes. What one phone lacks, the other has. The selling point of the Nova 2s is its dual front and dual rear cameras. The V10 on the other hand has dual rear cameras only, but it comes with the latest Kirin 970 chip. The Nova 2s on the other hand comes with last year’s Kirin 960 processor.

So what will you be going for? Dual cameras or more processing power?

Nova 2s Specs

The phone has a 5.99” FHD+ display with 2.5D glass on top. Bezels are thinner at the top and bottom, but Huawei has managed to put a fingerprint scanner below the display.

The Nova 2s comes in three variants – 4GB RAM + 64GB, 6GB RAM + 64GB, and 6GB RAM + 128GB. All three are powered by the Kirin 960 and storage can be expanded via a MicroSD card slot.

The cameras are the highlights of the phone. The Nova 2s has dual front cameras and dual rear cameras. The front facing cameras are a combination of a f/2.0 20MP primary sensor and a 2MP sensor for capturing depth of field. There is also a LED flash on the front.

The rear cameras are a f/1.8 16MP RGB sensor and a 20MP monochrome sensor with support for dual camera zoom. The cameras come with a bunch of shooting modes.

The Nova 2s runs EMUI 8.0 based on Android 8.0 Oreo. It has NFC with support for Huawei, Bluetooth 4.2 with aptX and aptX HD, and a hybrid dual SIM slot (Nano only). Battery capacity is 3340mAh and can be charged from 0 to 100% in 2 hours via a USB-C port.

Nova 2S Price

The Huawei Nova 2S will sell for ¥2699 (~$408) for the 4GB RAM + 64GB ROM variant, ¥2999 (~$453) for the 6GB RAM + 64GB model, and ¥3399 (~$514) for the 6GB RAM + 128GB version.

These prices are the same as that of the Honor V10 with the exception of the 128GB model which sells for ¥3499 (~$529). So you see why folks will have a hard time choosing between both devices?

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2nd Gen Nokia 6 In The Works, Model Number Revealed

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Dec 7, 2017

The Nokia 6 was the first Android smartphone released by HMD Global since it became a licensee for the Nokia brand. In less than a month, the phone will be a year old which means a successor should be announced. A new leak has revealed details of the successor which should launch soon.

An image posted on Baidu has revealed the model number of the 2nd gen Nokia 6 as well as memory configuration. The phone’s model number is TA-1054, but as we all know, this will differ depending on the market.

This is not the first time we seeing this model number. About a month ago, a phone with the same model number above was seen on the database of China’s Communications Commission and was thought to be the Nokia 9. As we can see the model number is for the 2nd gen Nokia 6.

The image also revealed that this model will come with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. This will also vary with respect to markets. We expect there will be a 3GB RAM variant with the same amount of storage and probably a 4GB RAM variant with 64GB of storage too.

Sources say the 2nd gen Nokia 6 will feature a sturdy and durable body as the original, but with a major redesign. The chins will be smaller, which might mean it will launch with a full-screen display.

The fingerprint scanner will have to move to the back as a result of the new screen and navigational buttons will now be on-screen. The rear camera is also reported to feature a new design, one similar to that of the Nokia 5.

The 2nd gen Nokia 6 will also feature a more powerful processor. It is speculated to come with the Snapdragon 660. Knowing Nokia, I won’t be surprised if the phone comes with the Snapdragon 450 SoC.

The Nokia 6 wasn’t the only phone whose info was released by the source. A second image shows the model numbers of the Nokia 9 too. As we can see from the image above, the next Nokia flagship will come in three variants with model numbers TA-1005, TA-1009, and TA-1042.

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Xiaomi Redmi 5, Redmi 5 Plus Full Screen Phones Officially Unveiled with Starting Price of 799 Yuan

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 7, 2017

Xiaomi has finally unveiled the highly anticipated Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus smartphones through its launch event in Beijing, China. The Redmi 5 duo are the first Redmi series phone from the company to arrive with full screen design.

Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus Design

The backside of the Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus sports the familiar three-stage design found on other Redmi phones. These phones feature full metallic body and they will be available in the market in four color options such as Gold, Rose Gold, Blue and Black. The Redmi 5 measures 151.8 x 72.8 x 7.7mm and it weighs 157 grams whereas the dimensions of the Redmi 5 Plus are 158.8 x 75.45 x 8.05mm and its weight is 179.5 grams.

The full screen design enabled Redmi 5 duo do not feature capacitive touch buttons. It means users can make use of the on-screen buttons for navigation. A fingerprint scanner can be found on the back panel of both phones. According to Xiaomi, it has left enough bezels around the display to ensure that the high screen to body ratio doesn’t translate into a fragile display.

Redmi 5 Specifications

The Redmi 5 that houses a 5.7-inch display carries support for HD+ resolution of 720 x 1440 pixels and an aspect ratio of 18:9. The Snapdragon 450 chipset that comprises of a 1.8 GHz octa-core processor and Adreno 506 graphics is present under the hood of the Redmi 5. It includes a battery of 3,300mAh battery.

It features an f/2.2 aperture 12-megapixel rear camera sensor with 1.25 µm pixel size that is equipped with a soft-LED flash. It is equipped with some other features like PDAF, dark light enhancement technology, facial recognition, HDR, Panorama and Burst mode. The front panel of the phone has a 5-megapixel selfie snapper that is coupled with features like Smart Beauty 5.0, facial recognition, and full HD video recording at 30 fps. It is running on Nougat flavored MIUI 9.

It is running on Nougat flavored MIUI 9. The connectivity features available on the Redmi 5 include hybrid dual SIM slot with support for microSD card, microUSB, full netcom support, 4G, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, 4.2 Bluetooth, 3.5mm audio jack and GPS.

Redmi 5 Pricing and Availability

The Redmi 5 featuring 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage is priced at 799 Yuan (~$120). The other model having 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage carries a price tag of 899 Yuan (~$135). Its first sale will begin on Dec. 12 at 10 AM in China through retailers like Xiaomi Mall, Jingdong Mall, Suning Tesco and Lynx.

Redmi 5 Plus Specifications

The larger Redmi 5 Plus houses an 18:9 display of 5.99 inches. It delivers Full HD+ resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels. Xiaomi has used the Snapdragon 625 chipset in various smartphones such as Redmi Note 4, Xiaomi Mi Max and Mi Max 2 and it has used it once again to power the Redmi 5 Plus.

A huge battery of 4,000mAh capacity that can last for up to 2 days fuels the handset. It also features the same set of cameras and connectivity feature that are available on the Redmi 5. It is also preinstalled with Nougat OS that is skinned with MIUI 9.

Redmi 5 Plus Pricing and Availability

The base model of the Redmi 5 Plus has 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage and it costs 999 Yuan (~$151). The higher variant that includes 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage is priced at 1,299 Yuan (~$196). It will be also available for purchase alongside the Redmi 5 on Dec. 12.

Huawei Nova 2s Color Variants, Pricing Leaked Ahead of its Launch

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 7, 2017

Huawei will be unveiling the Nova 2s smartphone later today. The rumor mill has revealed plenty of leaked images of the smartphone. Yesterday, an unboxing video of the Nova 2s smartphone was also leaked. Few hours ago, well-known tipster Evan Blass had released a high-resolution image that revealed the color variants of the Nova 2s. Also, the pricing of the two variants of the Nova 2s have also been leaked.

The 2s color pallette. pic.twitter.com/aFxi1l3X1x

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) December 6, 2017

The above image shows that the upcoming Huawei Nova 2s will be coming in color choices like black, red, gray and rose gold. Another image of the Nova 2s has also surfaced to shows off its entire design. The front panel features dual front cameras and a physical Home button that is enabled with fingerprint sensor. The left and top sides of the Nova 2s are barren, but the right edge has volume buttons and Power key. Its bottom edge features a 3.5mm audio jack, a USB-C port and an external speaker. The back panel is also fitted with dual cameras.

Read More: Huawei Nova 2S Official Invite Includes 4-in-1 Clip-on Lens Kit

According to the TENAA listing of the Huawei Nova 2s, it will be coming with a 6-inch display that will carry support for Full HD+ resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels. It will be delivering an aspect ratio of 18:9. The handset measures 156.9 x 75.1 x 7.5mm and weighs 169 grams.

Rumors have revealed that Kirin 960 chipset is present under the hood of the Nova 2s. Its rear panel is pegged to feature 20-megapixel + 16-megapixel dual camera system. The front panel will be housing a pair of 20-megapixel snappers. It will come preloaded with EMUI 8.0 flavored Android 8.0 Oreo and it will also include other features such as Hi-Fi audio chip and NFC. A 3,340mAh battery will be powering the Nova 2s smartphone.

Fresh information suggests that the Huawei Nova 2s featuring 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage will be carrying a price tag of 2,899 Yuan (~$438). The other variant of the phone featuring 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage will be priced at 3,199 Yuan (~$483).

(source 1, 2)

Samsung Galaxy S9, S9+ May Get Unveiled at Mobile World Congress 2018

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 7, 2017

Recent reports have suggested that Samsung may showcase the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ flagships behind closed doors to its partners at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2018 that will be held in January at Las Vegas. According to a South Korean publication, Samsung has said that it is unlikely to unveil the Galaxy S9 duo at the CES 2018.

Samsung has used the Mobile World Congress (MWC) platform to unveil the Galaxy S5, Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S7 smartphones. However, the unforeseen Galaxy Note 7 issues caused the company to launch the Galaxy S8 through its own launch event in March this year. Hence, the Galaxy S9 and S9+ are rumored to get unveiled at the MWC 2018.

Some reports have claimed that the South Korean company will be holding a launch event for the Galaxy S9 duo a day prior to the MWC 2018 that will be beginning on Feb. 26. Hence, the Galaxy Unpacked 2018 event may be held on Feb. 25.

The Samsung Galaxy S9 is expected to arrive with similar design as the Galaxy S8. However, it will be coming with improved specs and functions. The Galaxy S8’s Infinity Display design offered 84 percent screen-to-body ratio. However, the Galaxy S9 is speculated to deliver a higher screen-to-body ratio of nearly 90 percent through its Infinity Display. Its rear-mounted fingerprint scanner will be placed below the dual rear cameras.

(source)

Blackview BV9000 & BV9000 Pro 2017 : Which One Do You Choose?

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 7, 2017

Blackview announced the BV9000 Pro a few weeks back with top-notch specs and premium design. The rugged smartphone maker is now set to unleash another model BV9000 into the market.

Talking about the specifications, the BV9000 features a 13MP dual Sony sensor at the rear. The rugged smartphone also comes equipped with the MT6757CD octa-core processor clocked at 2.6GHz with 4GB of RAM and there is 64GB of internal memory. The BV9000 still retains the 5.7-inch display size seen on the BV9000 Pro and it comes with a 4180mAH battery. The only difference between both models is the memory: 6GB RAM+ 128GB ROM on BV9000 Pro.

Both the Blackview BV9000 and BV9000 Pro are basically Blackview’s final rugged phone in 2017. They come with new accessories and a brand new design. The entire package comes encased in a premium upgraded solid wood packaging box and is not the same as the paper box packaging used on previous Blackview models. This no doubt keeps your phone safer and more upscale. Blackview BV9000 & BV9000 Pro also packs an earphone as well as a USB Type-C cable for data syncing and charging, and a charger inside their boxes.

The entire package of BV9000Pro is available at a starting price of just $299.99. If you are looking for an unusual and premium Christmas gift for yourself or relatives, it looks like a totally good pick.

Buy Blackview BV9000 Pro For $299.99

Buy Blackview BV9000 Pro on Giztop